Ceramics of Italy Exhibit Design Challenge 2011, Italian Architecture Contest, Building, News, Design
Ceramics of Italy Exhibit Design Challenge : Contest
Ceramics of Italy Exhibit Design Contest: Italian Tile Information
24 Oct 2011
Ceramics of Italy Exhibit Design Challenge Winner
CERAMICS OF ITALY ANNOUNCES WINNER OF THE EXHIBIT DESIGN CHALLENGE
Competition to Design a 3,000 sqft Italian Tile Exhibit for Coverings 2012
(New York – October 2011) Every year at Coverings – the premiere tile and stone show in the U.S. – attendees flock to the Italian pavilion as the center of hospitality on the show floor. In a new twist this year, the 3,000 square foot pavilion will be transformed into a striking topography-inspired piazza, as envisioned by e+i studio. The NYC-based architecture and design firm was selected as the official winner of the Ceramics of Italy Exhibit Design Challenge and will design the next Ceramics of Italy pavilion at the fair in April.
image from organisers
Sponsored by Confindustria Ceramica, the Association of Italian Ceramics, and hosted by Architizer, a dynamic online community of architects, the Ceramics of Italy Exhibit Design Challenge called on architects from around the world to submit their designs for a 3,000 square foot pavilion to be built at Coverings this spring. Given relatively free artistic reign and a reasonable budget, entrants were asked to incorporate a restaurant and café, space for an information desk and re-usable components to reflect the Italian tile industry’s commitment to sustainability. Over 80 architecture firms signed on for the challenge. Proposals were reviewed by representatives of Confindustria Ceramica, Architizer, and an advisory committee of previous exhibit architects including Bernard Tschumi, Laurinda Spear, and Michael P. Johnson.
After much deliberation, Eva Perez de Vega and Ian Gordon, founders of the dynamic architecture and design practice e+i studio, were chosen as the overall winners of the competition for their inventive “Piazza Ceramica” design. Based on the idea of an Italian piazza, their proposed design features a large open gathering space with gradual steps reminiscent of a piazza church. According to e+i studio, the topographic mounds can be recreated into many different piazza-like configurations. They will be awarded a $10,000 design fee and $15,000 project management fee to oversee fabrication and installation of the pavilion.
As stated by Vittorio Borelli, Vice President of Promotional Activities at Confindustria Ceramica, “We are so pleased with the level of creativity and design excellence generated from all over the globe. It’s a pity we could not build them all!”
Michael P. Johnson, principal of Michael P. Johnson Studio and an advisor for the competition said, “The proposal by e+i studio is a clever concept of carving out the functional requirements of the project. A landscape of tile-cladded typography ‘steps’ will successfully draw attention to the booth while the plaza located in the valley between the hills will create a rich experience.”
Laurinda Spear, founding principal of Arquitectonica and also an advisor, adds, “’Piazza Ceramica’ is unique for the way it utilizes the edges of the pavilion. The two corners that have been ‘lifted’ off the ground provide quick access to the cafés along the corridor, while the embracing central gathering space is reminiscent of a valley within the pavilion.”
Tony Leung, an architect based in Hong Kong, was also recognized as a runner-up and will be awarded $1,500 for his undulating exhibit landscape, “Ceramics Carpet.”
Ceramics of Italy is now working with the design team at e+i studio to finalize the plans for the pavilion. It will be on view at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida from April 17-20, 2012 during Coverings.
Ceramics of Italy
Ceramics of Italy is the trademark for Italian manufacturers of ceramic tiles, sanitaryware and tableware, that are members of Confindustria Ceramica. For more information on the ceramic tile sector, visit the gateway www.italiantiles.com with links to our three key industry sites: www.laceramicaitaliana.it (the official website of Confindustria Ceramica), www.italytile.com (the official website for the Ceramic Tile Department of the Italian Trade Commission) and www.tilecompetition.com (a digital guide to the Ceramics of Italy Design Competition). For instant updates on Ceramics of Italy, visit www.facebook.com/CeramicTilesOfItaly or http://twitter.com/tilesofitaly.
Ceramics of Italy Exhibit Design Challenge images / information received Oct 2011
Piazza Ceramica
Ceramic Tiles of Italy Pavilion
The proposal for the Ceramics of Italy exhibit emerges from the idea of the Italian Piazza and a conceptual lifting the corners of the platform to provide elegantly concealed programmed spaces below, and a flowing piazza-like space above articulated with gradual steps in a visually striking red gradient. The two mound-like surfaces provide different seating possibilities and cantilever over the required reception and café areas.
Piazza Ceramica can be recreated in many different piazza-like configurations. The proposal consists in producing one module and its mirror counterpart, using CNC and water jet technologies, which can be combined and reused in multiple assemblies. For Piazza Ceramica 2012 the pavilion will debut in the “introvert” position, with the two sloping surfaces facing each other creating a flow of open space between them inviting and guiding visitors into the tiled piazza. This open gathering and eating space is modulated with gradient shades of green suggesting different performance possibilities of areas within the larger space.
Ceramic Tiles of Italy Pavilion information from e+i studio
Ceramics of Italy Tile Competition – 2012-13
image from organisers
Tile Competition Italy
Confindustria Ceramica – the Italian Association of Ceramics comprised of over 150 Italian ceramic tile manufacturers – and the Italian Trade Commission announce the official call for entries.
Location: Italy
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Multifunctional Center in Sappada
estudio ETB
picture from estudio ETB
Multifunctional Center in Sappada
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Park Associati – Cino Zucchi Architetti
Salewa Spa Headquarters
Milanofiori Housing, Milan
OBR Open Building Research
Milanofiori Housing Complex
Building Competitions : Archive
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